Clockwise from top: The Juans, Cup Of Joe x Janine Tenoso, Silas, mrld and Katrina Velard (Photos from official Viva Records press photos mrld and Katrina Velarde photos from their official Facebook)

This week highlights the new sounds from some of the music scene’s leading acts that include The Juans, wonder teen mrld, flamboyant Silas and the exciting collaboration between Janine Teñoso and fast rising band Cup Of Joe. Plus new Jude Pastor, rap R&B Chosen and the return of Katrina Velarde.

Hit solo artist Janine Teñoso and hot band Cup Of Joe lead the pack with their fine sounding collaboration on a new song titled “Tingin.” This rousing new song breaks away from the usual stylings and sounds that we’ve been hearing from pop rock bands and solo acts. Which is to say that “Tingin” doesn’t disappoint and lives up to the expectations from these two distinct acts. COJ x Teñoso’s “Tingin” catches the right at the onset as three vocalists trade verses with rousing melodies that’s unlike anything that we’ve heard from both acts. And that’s a good thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJakSXHZROo

Speaking of new, “Back Home” sees the return of pop band The Juans. The Juans turn wistful and sing about a different kind of heartbreak in particular. The kind that really hits close to home. The Juans go deep asking, “what if our real heartbreak started way, way back home?” The song’s theme suggests that some scars go “deep within our subconscious, tracing our most painful experiences back to our childhood, back home.”  The ensuing music indeed sounds like the pain in there cuts deep and yet is hopeful at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qCAVicJnxA

MRLD (real name Meriel De Jesus) is a new breed of young music act unlike any in the scene today. Only 17-years-old, MRLD has established herself as a hit singer-songwriter with her own brand of relatable modern pop. Said sound is very much present on her new original titled “The Fate Of The One Not Chosen.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzmNDsDd7yo

Flamboyant solo pop act Silas returns with a funky sounding single “Kanino.” Silas writes, sings and co-produces on his first Tagalog-sung song and the result is this danceable, ear-tweaking song about admitting one’s true feelings as he sings repetitively in falsetto “Iba na ang damdamin / hindi ikaw ang mahal.” Contributing a smooth lyrical break is “Eroplano” rapper Ace Cirera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PicBTzdWjE0

Solo act Martin Riggs returns with an inspirational song titled “Paraiso.” As the title suggests, the tune is an aspirational feel-good song.  A change of pace for Martin Riggs, who previously went for moody, modern alt pop songs and admits that this is his first no frills, straight up pop song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx3SthtUQcA

Katrina Velarde returns with her first single post-pandemic in this original Vehnee Saturno written ballad titled “Ako Ba O Siya?” As usual, Katrina’s powerful voice is what drives this yearning ballad about asking a lover to choose between her and another. Powerfully-sung, Katrina channels all the pertinent emotions in this old-school ‘birit’ ballad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCUaaHWaxqo

Solo music act Chosen (Elmo Flores) makes his Viva Records debut via bouncy R&B pop track “Too Much.” Here, Chosen shows off his musical wares that are rooted in R&B flavored pop with some rapping to boot in this catchy track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDRKH4OLybs

Jude Pastor’s tuneful song in “sayaw” is the new one from this South-base music act. He delights in this upbeat and catchy pop ear-candy  about “how a great love does not need the perfect circumstances, and the perfect words to bloom, that it only takes a chance meeting between two people who are willing to give it a chance to grow.” The title is a word play on ‘sa yo’ (for you) which is appropriate here as Jude seems to dedicate this one to everyone who has ever felt excited at the prospect of being in love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xklQjkZ2tkw